December 30, 2007 by PastorDave.

#297, You Must, Sunday 12-30-2007, Pastor David McIntosh

Text: John 3:1-7
Theme: Christianity is a choice.

INTRODUCTION

1. On the last Sunday of 2007 & as we begin to peak into 2008 and all that is coming at us.
2. Being a Christian is going to become interesting, challenging real fast.
3. With that said, I would like to take this day and go back to the beginning.
4. Sometimes we get so far down the road & so deep in issues we get uprooted from what defines who we are as Christians.
5. Statement: Christianity is not a political stance, it is not a tradition, it’s not a philosophy, or even a religion; CHRISTIANITY IS A CHOICE.

YOU MUST

1. A man came to Jesus once with outstanding character & credentials. He was a respected spiritual leader in the nation.
2. He was a wise man who carefully searched out important matters.
3. He discerned that Jesus was a man who came from God & had supernatural powers.
4. In spite of all these outstanding qualities, when this man, Nicodemus sought counsel from Jesus regarding his own life, Jesus said to him: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:3,7)

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BORN AGAIN?

1. The term “born again” comes from two Greek words
   1. Gennao = to procreate
   2. Anothen = from above, from the beginning, again
2. To be born the first time is to take on the features, characteristics, weaknesses, and limitations of our earthly parents.
3. But, when we are born a second time, we take on the features, characteristics, strengths, and abilities of our heavenly father.
4. So to be “born again” is a rebirth of the spirit, we are born of the flesh, but when we say we are born again, it means that we have been born from above in spirit.
5. Every single human being ever born, must be “made again” by the Spirit of God.
6. “No one can make you again but He who made you the first time.” W.Y. Fullerton.
7. Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (Jn.3:6) Flesh does not turn into spirit; we must be born spiritually we do not become “spirit.”

IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE A SECOND BIRTH?

1. When we were born into the world, we were born with only one nature, a sin nature.
2. Rom. 5:12 – “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.”
3. Sin is what separated man from God, so the challenge is how one can overcome their sin nature so that eternal death is avoided and peace with God can be attained!
4. THERE IS NO WAY TO OVERCOME THIS SIN NATURE EXCEPT BY CHOOSING TO BE BORN AGAIN INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD!
5. 2 Cor. 5:21 – “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
6. Jesus answers the question for us, “No one comes to the Father except through me.”
7. There is only one way to overcome the sin nature that lives in every human being that separated every human being from God; that way is through Jesus Christ, believing in and surrendering to a personal second birth where a person becomes “born again.”
8. Titus 3:5-7 – “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
9. The only way to be saved is by a rebirth through Jesus Christ.

HOW DOES A SECOND BIRTH TAKE PLACE?

1. According to the Bible how does someone truly, I mean really become born again.
2. Nicodemus was puzzled, the idea was totally foreign to his thinking; isn’t it unthinkable that a born human being can be born again?
3. But Jesus did explain that he was not talking about a physical birth, but a spiritual one.
4. Jesus said, “Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the Kingdom of God.”
5. That needs to be seen here, you do not have to be born again to live life or even live a religious life, but if you desire access into the Kingdom of God, you must be born again of the Spirit!
6. A second birth takes place not so much with a prayer (the sinner’s prayer) but with a call-out or a cry out to the Lord.
7. A child can be fully developed in the womb and be born, yet have no life. A “stillborn” birth is a tragedy to everyone. (If you have ever had one, our prayers go out to you).
8. Immediately after the baby is brought from the womb, it is vital to get the baby to breath air, this first breath is usually expressed in a cry or call out.
9. In much the same way the process of spiritual birth or “being born again” requires a “cry” as the spiritual new born calls upon the Name of the Lord to be saved!
10. Notice the “cry” or “call” in the following Scriptures associated with salvation
    1. Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:12-13; 1 Cor. 1:2; Psalm 116:13

IS THERE A PROPER “CRY” OR “CALL” FOR EVERYONE?

1. Well the Scripture does not give us a specific script to be read, but it is specific.
2. Romans 10:8-11 – “But what does it say? The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him for the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
3. So we are born again by putting our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us.
4. Our call to the Lord must contain a confession that Jesus is Lord, and it must come from a belief in our hearts that God truly raised Jesus from the dead.
5. Because belief comes from the heart (soul) and our mouths speak the confession of our heart’s belief.
6. Jesus said in Matthew 12:37 – “For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
7. “Believe” = a principle that has been established in the mind; to the degree that it controls my emotions and actions.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PERSON IS BORN AGAIN?

1. An amazing transformation takes place, Paul said, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new. (2 Cor. 5:17)
2. The “new” that we have is a “nature” that does not sin; unfortunately it coexists with a human nature that does sin. So we now have a life long, daily struggle.
3. You also experience new sensations, different perspectives, new desires, new hungers:
   1. A Love for God’s Word (Holy Spirit creates a hunger for more of the Word)
   2. New Awareness of Sin (conviction of words, actions, thoughts, that displease God)
   3. A New Love for God (You develop a “first love” for God)
   4. A Love for Other Believers (you are now a member of a large family)
   5. A Desire to Tell Others (you realize you are living in the light; friends & family are not, there is a nature desire to want to tell them)
4. These are vital signs that we need to look for at birth (spiritual.

ONE INGREDIENT TO ENSURE GROWTH

1. 1 Peter 2:2 – “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”
2. James 1:21 – “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”
3. We must birth a personal relationship with what the Word of God says in order to grow up. So many are born again, be starving in the spirit for the Word.

ARE YOU BORN AGAIN, ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES?

1. In Matthew 7:14 Jesus said, “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
2. In Matthew 7:22-23 Jesus said, “Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evil doers!”
3. It is too important to brush aside and wait until another time. If you are not Biblically born again you live everyday in grave danger, eternal danger.
4. Jesus said, you must be born again.
5. If you know you are not, or if you said a prayer once years ago but you know that prayer was not a call or a cry to be born again then make today the day.
6. Open the altars for anyone and everyone that would like to make a choice to confess with their mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. Come call on the Name of Lord and be saved.

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December 30, 2007 by admin.

JOIN US TODAY

• WORSHIP and THE WORD at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM
• Nursery, 4s and 5s, Kids 4 Christ
• Pastor Dave McIntosh, “You Must,” John 3:1-7
• CHRISTIAN EDUCATION at 10:00 AM
• Classes for all children and youth
• Five adult electives meet here and at the school
• EVENING SERVICE at 6:30 PM
• Special concert with Buddy Tetreault—a guitarist and missionary kid

JOIN US THIS WEEK

• MONDAY 6:30 PM—New Year’s Eve Service and Ice Cream Social
• TUESDAY Happy New Year!
• WEDNESDAY 5:45 PM—A.L.I.V.E. Homeschoolers Prayer
  6:30 PM—FAMILY NIGHT
  Rainbows (girls & boys, 3 up to K)
  Girls Ministries (grades K-8)
  Royal Rangers (boys’ clubs, K-12)
  Impact Student Ministries
  Effective Personal Soul Winning
  Adult Bible Study (L.A.B.I.)—Week of Prayer begins
• THURSDAY 6:30 PM—Prayer
• FRIDAY 6:30 PM—Prayer
• SATURDAY 6:30 PM—Prayer

ANNOUNCING

• THE NEW TRACTS, A Sower of Seeds (about Leominster-born Johnny Appleseed), are now available. Please pick up a few from the tract racks in the foyer to distribute.
• THE NEXT CHILD DEDICATION will be during the 11:00 AM service on January 27. If you desire to dedicate your child to the Lord, please fill out a yellow application card located at the Welcome Center and turn it in at the church office or give it to an usher. You will receive a call from the office.
• MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES are still available. To help in the nursery, please see Tammy Kinsley (must be female and at least 15 years old). To help in the sound or media ministry, please see Peter Kinsley. To help in the van ministry, please see Phil Prentiss or call him at 978-878-5701.
• TRIP TO THE HOLY LAND: An informational meeting for the trip will be held soon. Please sign up at the Welcome Center if you are interested in finding out more about this exciting trip coming up in November 2008.
• SUBSCRIPTIONS to The Word for You Today devotional books are $15/yr or $28/two yr. Subscribe online at www.bobgass.com (under Subscriptions) or by calling 1-800-856-6159.

HOMETEAMS MEETING THIS WEEK

• Seekers of Light men’s study (Sullivans)—Sunday, 3:00 PM
• Branches of Messiah (Wheelers)—Wednesday, 6:30 PM
• YACC for Young Adults (Gardners)—Thursday, 6:30 PM
• Young Adult Discipleship (Bells)—Thursday, 6:45 PM
• Women of Faith (Telliers)—Friday, 10:00 AM
• Pick up directions at the Welcome Center. You are invited!

CHURCH LIBRARY

• The library, located next to the Youth Chapel, is open:
• Sunday: 10:00-11:00 AM, after second service, 6:00-6:30 PM
• Wednesday: 6:15-6:30 PM and after Family Night ministries

TAKE THE LAND OFFERINGS TO DATE

• Beginning Mortgage: $600,000
• 30-month Offerings Goal: $405,000
• 30-month Total $ Pledged: $215,736
• Offerings/Payments: $65,599
• Current Mortgage Balance: $534,401

NEEDS IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• A woman who just moved out of the Interfaith Hospitality Network is in need of furniture for her new place. If you can help, please see Cindy Robinson.
• A sister in Christ (RN by trade), looking to join Leominster Assembly, seeks a room/apartment in the Leominster area. Landlord must be dog lover (she has two dogs). If you know of anything, please call the church office.

BULLETIN INSERTS

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December 30, 2007 by PastorMark.

Here’s a suggestion for January of this new year. So many of us struggle with making and keeping priorities. The Book of Proverbs is God’s Word to us “for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair” (Proverbs 1:3). Proverbs contains 31 chapters and January has 31 days. Why not read one chapter of Proverbs for each day? On January 1 read Proverbs 1, on January 2 read Proverbs 2, and so on. By doing this, you will be challenged and inspired concerning the great priorities of life: the fear of the Lord (1:7), the value of wisdom (4:7), the power of our words (18:21), the importance of right relationships (27:10) and many more. May this discipline of one chapter a day from Proverbs propel you into a year of focused priorities and abundant living!

Pastor Mark Boucher

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